Ability, Permission, and Possibility: Finding the Right Words

The right choice makes your Gaelic not only correct, but also alive with the rhythm and courtesy of island life.

When we learn English, teachers often drill into us: “Can is ability, may is permission.” But when we step into Gaelic, the picture shifts. Gaelic carves up the meanings differently, and if you’re learning the language, knowing where those lines are drawn helps you sound both natural and polite.

Talking about Ability: as urrainn

If you want to say you’re able to do something, Gaelic gives you as urrainn.

• ’S urrainn dhomh Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn. (I can speak Gaelic.)

• Nach urrainn dhut a thighinn còmhla rinn? (Can’t you come with us?)

  
  

This is the grammar of skills and capacity—the things you can do. On the islands, you’ll often hear it in practical settings:

• ’S urrainn dhomh an crodh a thoirt a-mach. (I can take the cattle out.)

• Nach urrainn dhut am bàta a chur air bhog? (Can’t you launch the boat?)

  
  

Permission and Possibility: faodaidh

Here’s where Gaelic takes a different turn.

Faodaidh can mean both may (permission) and may (possibility).

• Faodaidh tu a dhol a-mach.(You may go out. / You’re allowed to go out.)

• Chan fhaod thu seo a dhèanamh.(You may not do this.)

• Faodaidh i a bhith fuar a-màireach.(It may be cold tomorrow.)

  
  

This last example sums up island life well. You’ll often hear someone say:

Faodaidh i a bhith grianach, ach faodaidh uisge trom a bhith ann cuideachd

“It may be sunny, but it may there may be heavy rain as well.”

Both possibilities, often in the same afternoon.

Everyday Politeness

In English, we soften requests by switching from can to may. In Gaelic, you can soften the tone by adding a little courtesy phrase:

• Am faod mi a dhol a-steach?(May I go in?)

• Am b’ urrainn dhomh a dhol a-steach, mas e do thoil e?(Could/May I go in, please?)

That last part—mas e do thoil e—literally means “if it is your will,” and gives a lovely Gaelic flavour of respect. You might hear it in community settings, like asking at a ceilidh:

Am b’ urrainn dhomh suidhe an-seo, mas e do thoil e? (Could/May I sit here, please?).

Why It Matters

Learners often try to match English one-to-one: can = urrainn, may = faod. But Gaelic works on its own terms. If you rely only on English rules, you risk sounding too formal in one moment, or too blunt in another.

When you understand how Gaelic treats these small words, you start to hear the culture in the language: the difference between what you’re capable of, what you’re allowed to do, and what might happen in the world around you.

A Final Word

So next time you want to say can or may in Gaelic, pause and think: Am I talking about ability, permission, or possibility? The right choice makes your Gaelic not only correct, but also alive with the rhythm and courtesy of island life.

Whether it’s asking “Am faod mi a thighinn dhan taigh agad?” (May I come to your house?) or admitting “Chan urrainn dhomh a dhol dhan mhuir an-diugh” (I can’t go to the sea today), you’re not just learning words—you’re learning how Gaelic speakers navigate daily life.